19 May 2023

Principal’s Message – Kate Ferguson

Thank you to the mothers, grandmothers and significant women who were able to celebrate Mother’s Day with us last Friday. It was an honour to be able to welcome you and celebrate you with our students.

Thank you to the group of fathers who were able to assist staff with breakfast – we appreciate your help ensuring that we were able to celebrate all the significant women.

Support Staff Day

On Tuesday the 26^th May we observed ‘World School Support Staff Day’, a day to celebrate and recognise the role of support staff. School support staff play an important role in ensuring students are learning in a safe and supportive learning environment. They foster positive, trusting relationships with students, staff and parents and at St John the Baptist, we are blessed with their presence and ongoing commitment.

Thank you to our school support staff for their commitment to the school community, especially to our students and their learning.

Learning Support Assistants

Learning Support Assistants are one group of support staff at St John the Baptist School. These staff members work closely with class teachers and support all students within the classroom. You may hear your students talk regularly about these staff members as they regularly work with classes and are integral in the support of student learning.

From Left – Mrs Belinda Sweeney, Miss Chelsea Johns, Mrs Karlie Klemenczuk, Mrs Sam Hodges, Miss Kat Foxx, Mrs Sharon Thorne, Mrs Rebecca Reading, Mrs Marian Campbell,  Mrs Alichia Hardy, Mrs Michelle McDonald, Bear Therapy Dog.

 Absent Mrs Linda Wallace

Homework feedback

In our last newsletter I invited all families to give feedback on our school homework policy. This link will close in a weeks time and I invite all to give their feedback on this issue. The feedback questionnaire can be found via the link below.

Once I receive feedback from parents, students and staff, I will work with a focus group to review the suggested homework policy. I am hoping to have 2 parent representatives within this focus group. We will meet twice, outside school hours to look at the suggested policy. I invite any parent who would like to be a representative to email me at admin@maitlandsj.catholic.edu.au

This week

This week I am in Wollongong at the NSW Combined Catholic Schools Principal Conference. Thank you to the school Leadership team, especially Stacey Whiting, who has led the school in my absence. I look forward to sharing my learning with the school community next week.

Assistant Principal’s Message – Stacey Whiting

A significant part of my role as Assistant Principal is supporting Mrs Ferguson and the staff in managing student welfare and pastoral care. We work with students and families on a regular basis to ensure academic, social and emotional needs are catered for. Twice a term, we have a “Support Team Meeting” where teachers have an opportunity to bring forward any students they are concerned about. The meeting is attended by either Mrs Ferguson or myself, Mrs Summerville, Mrs Lindus (our Learning Support Teachers) and Miss Morgan (our Gifted Education Mentor). At the meeting, we discuss concerns the class teacher may have, and recommendations are made to ensure that we are doing all we can to support our students and families.    

It is also a part of my role to follow up student issues where poor choices have been made. We focus on our PBL matrix to highlight and discuss our behavioural expectations. Depending on the nature of the issue, this usually includes a conference with the students involved and working out a suitable consequence, which aligns with our Behaviour and Welfare Policy.   

At St John the Baptist, we take a restorative justice approach when dealing with incidents and conflict in the belief that this can be a learning opportunity to prevent similar issues in the future. During the conference, we ask these questions:   

• Who was involved?  
• What happened?  
• What actions/words caused it to happen?  
• Who was affected?  
• What could stop it from happening again?  
• What can I do to make the situation right?  

Thank you to all our parents and carers for the incredible support that they give us when we follow up student issues. We know it is not easy to hear that your child has been hurt or has been involved in making a poor choice. What is important when we do make the wrong choice, is that we acknowledge what we have done, make it an opportunity for learning, and do what we can to try and make things right. We cannot underestimate the importance of working together in partnership when following up on school issues. The teachers and staff always want what is best for your children, and that is for them to be happy, healthy, and feel safe coming to school. We can achieve this by having open communication and working in partnership together.    

Religious Education – Chris Sheridan

Next week St John the Baptist along with all schools in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese will celebrate Catholic Schools Week.

This is an annual event that recognises and acknowledges the sacred work of our schools and how they seek to journey with every student. Each moment of that journey presents opportunities to encounter the Mystery and all-embracing love of God: through our relationships, our learnings, our liturgical celebrations.

This year, our Catholic Schools Week theme is “Encounter: Journeying Together,” which reminds us that we are called to be Easter people – those who are committed to building joy-filled communities who are constantly seeking unity and belonging.

Such times call for us to accompany others along the road, meeting them where they are at, hearing the things that set their hearts on fire, and those that express their disappointments and anger. Like the two disciples heading towards Emmaus (Lk 24:13:35), Jesus does not tell them to turn back, rather He walks alongside them and listens deeply. He doesn’t just talk to them at a distance, He meets them and encounters them.

I pray we can each strive to do the same. This is at the heart of our theme this year.

We especially invite the parents and carers to join Year 5 for Mass in St Mary’s Chapel on Thursday June 8^th at 10:00am. We’d love to see you there.

Sports Report – Sara Murdoch

Tennis

Please find information about the Todd Woodbridge Cup. If your son or daughter is in Year 3 or 4 and is interested in playing in the competition, please email me. sara.murdoch@mn.catholic.edu.au

If I get enough interest, I will register a team/s.

The Stage 3 (Year 5 and 6) competition is not being held in the Maitland/Newcastle area this year.

The Todd Woodbridge Cup is an inclusive primary school competition for Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4) and Stage 3 (Years 5 & 6) students who use modified equipment, numeric scoring, and mixed gender teams. The competition commences with Zone events followed by Regional Playoffs and finally a State Final that is held at Sydney Olympic Park each year (Term 4).

The Todd Woodbridge Cup is not just about selecting students, but encouraging participation, providing a positive experience playing tennis, growing friendships, and giving students the opportunity to represent their school in a team environment.

For most students, this may be their first experience representing their school. Students can have minimal experience playing tennis and we encourage participation of all levels and ability!

Athletics Carnival

It's Athletics Carnival time! Our carnival is on Friday the 9th June at Maitland Athletics Track. Check Compass for all the carnival details. 

Please also find below the Year 2 to Year 6 permission and nomination form. Please fill this form out if your child is in Years 2-6. It's a good idea to fill out the form with your child so they can decide if they would like to participate in the optional events. 

If your child is in Kindergarten or Year 1, please fill out the permission slip below. Your children will be attending the carnival and participating in novelty events in the centre of the track.

It's always a great day out at our athletics carnival plus there will be a coffee truck! 
We are looking forward to seeing the kids participate and have fun!

Polding AFL

Good luck to Myles Porter who is currently participating in the Polding AFL Trials down in Batemans Bay! Good luck Myles! Future star in the making!

Polding Cross Country

Rebecca Young Cup Rugby League 7s Gala Day

We had an amazing day today at Kurri Kurri sports ground participating in the Rebecca Young Cup Rugby League 7s Gala Day. Our girls did such a fantastic job in their first ever experience playing Rugby League. We had a big win in our first game of the day against East Maitland Public School. We had some very strong opposition in our next two games, experiencing two close losses to Telarah Public School and St Phillips Cessnock-but still scoring many tries and making some incredible tackles! Thank you to all of our families that came and supported the team. Outstanding work girls we are very proud of you! Thank you to Mr Tobin for being our coach and manager on the day!

Young Environmental Champions Friday May 12

These amazing Year 5 students travelled to the Newcastle Museum on Friday 12th May to attend the ‘Young Environmental Champions’ Project Pitch Event as our follow up to the Action 4 Agriculture program.

They presented the amazing work they are leading with Stage 3 and Mini Vinnies to a room full of other school teams, Sustainability professionals, dignitaries and some very distinguished judges from the Sustainability realm!

They did extremely well and should be filled with pride at the extraordinary way they communicated their passion and progress so far. They are very eager to continue their work on increasing awareness and decreasing awareness, towards achieving the United Nations Sustainability goal 13.3.1 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. 

Youth Environmental Forum Tuesday May 16

On Tuesday May 16^th these wonderful students explored in wealth of sustainable workshops and experiences. They joined with more than 50 students from the region for the 17^th annual forum. Presenters shared innovative learning experiences and taught the students a myriad of ways to be more sustainable and they are eager to share this with our school and the broader community. 

There were many opportunities to hear from Local Landcare, Wetlands Centre, Hunter Bird Observers Guild and many more on the excellent opportunities that exist within our communities where community is leading the way in taking genuine action on climate change and improving our Council ecosystem. It was hard to get a word in at the break times with all the awesome sharing of their findings and fun!

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Finance

Thank you to the families who are making regular payments. If you are not paying your school fee account in full, we kindly request weekly / fortnightly / monthly payments. These were due to start by 31^st March. Please contact lesley.minter@mncatholic.edu.au should you need any assistance. Fee statements are emailed to fee payers at the start of each month.

Class Merit Awards

Canteen

P & F News

We hope students, staff and families enjoyed the Mother's Day celebrations last week. It was fantastic to have the playground filled with artwork, music, laughter and love. Thank you to the volunteers who freely gave their time to support the celebrations, such as preparing items for the stall, running the stall, preparing and serving breakfast and organising the raffle items. 

Term 2 General Meeting

Wednesday 24^th May. 9:30am in the school hall. Everyone welcome. Please sign in at front office when you arrive.

Athletics Carnival Morning Tea

There will be a morning tea bundle available for students at the athletics carnival. 

Orders are via Qkr! app. 

We are asking for volunteers to help prepare the bundles the day before the carnival. If you are available on Thursday 8th June from approx 9 -11.30am please email events@pandf-maitlandsj.com

Uniform Shop

Open Monday 8:30-9am in school hall.

We are asking for donations of approved uniform items in good, clean quality condition (no rips, stains etc).

We thank our dedicated uniform shop volunteers for their time and efforts in sorting and washing donations ready to sell.

Contacting the P & F Committee

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance via executive@pandf-maitlandsj.com

We welcome any suggestions, feedback, offers to volunteer with events or general enquiries.

Dates for the Diary

Term 2

Meeting – Wednesday 24 th May @ 9:30am (Week 5)
Athletics carnival morning tea - Friday 9th June (Week 6)
PJ day/cake stall - Wednesday 28 th June (Week 10)

Term 3

Thompson’s pie drive - TBC (Week 5)
Meeting - Wednesday 9th August @ 9:30am (Week 6)
Father’s Day stall - Wednesday 30th   August (Week 7)
Father’s Day raffle - Friday 1st   September (Week 7)

Term 4

Meeting & 2024 AGM - Wednesday 8 November @ 9:30 am (Week 7)
Christmas Family Night - Tuesday 5th December (Week 9)
Christmas Fun Day - Friday 8th December (Week 9)

Winter Uniforms

Winter uniforms are now available at Ken Lane Menswear in High Street Maitland and online at: